R1MC bares protocol for reporters on New Year’s revelry

DAGUPAN CITY – A protocol should be followed by media men when reporting on the victims of the revelry on New Year’s, this according to the management of the government-run hospital.

PROTOCOL. Peha Lagao Batallones, Region 1 Medical Center’s spokeswoman, briefs media men on the preparation of the government hospital on the 2015 New Year’s firecrackers and other explosives hoopla. Listening at the background is Ramon Bautista, R1MC’s chief of staff; Dr. Noel Manaois, chief of the Health Emergency Management: Dr. Cesar Guico, chief of Clinic. Manaois and Guico explained to the media practitioners the protocol on interviewing and reporting the casualties of the revelry. MORTZ C. ORTIGOZA

Dr. Noel Manaois, of the Region-1 Medical Center (R1MC), told media men to first ask permission to the victims and their respective families, the attendant doctor, or the social welfare here, before reporting.

Manaois, chief of the Health Emergency Management, said media should be careful so they won’t be sued by the patients and their families who do not want their carelessness or folly announced by the media.

Manaois exhorted the reporters at the press conference at the hospital that Dr. Roland Mejia, R1MC Director, called last Monday that they should remember the doctor-patient privilege communication, too.

The media men however downplayed the fears of the doctors without asking their imprimatur and those of the patients and the personnel of the Department of Social Welfare and Development before they report or write the personality and status of the injured.

Some of them said they are not afraid of any legal repercussion in describing in public the horrible sight that befalls the victims of firecrackers and other explosives as their work is shrouded with public interest.

“The interest of the public, and press freedom are superior to the doctor and patient privilege communication, and the prohibition given to the media to report them,” said Ronnel de Vera of Crime Buster Newspaper.

Broadcaster Susan Yadao of DWIC- News Radio said the complete names the media men are not allowed to mention as customarily practiced are those of the minors.

The data he showed said that aside from year 2014, there were 62 victims in 2013, 59 victims in 2012, 42 victims in 2011, 49 victims in 2010, 48 victims in 2009, 69 victims in 2008, 65 victims in 2007, and 109 victims in 2006.

He said in the 2014 festivities there were seven persons with eye injuries, 46 individuals with blast burns without amputation, four persons with blast burns with amputation, and one victim of stray bullet.

The indices were based on the victim who was confined at the R1MC and not at the provincial hospitals owned by the provincial government of Pangasinan.